From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 12, 1997
Crofters in the Lairg area have set up a "sheep watch" scheme to guard their flocks against rustlers after dark. The move was agreed at the recent annual meeting of the Rheanbreck and Torroble Grazings Committee, when the main topic under discussion was the alarming increase in suspected sheep rustling in the area. The crofters, who use the 7000 acre common grazings stretching from Sleasdairidh to Acheilidh, have lost about 100 sheep between them this year.
The largest slab of inscribed Caithness flagstone paving produced this century – the work of a Sutherland firm – has recently been laid by the City of Edinburgh Council. The three-quarter-tonne flagstone was commissioned from the Orcadian Stone Company of Golspie and bears the UNESCO World Heritage emblem, to signify that the historic City of Edinburgh is a site of outstanding international heritage value. The stone has been incorporated in the paving on the Mound Precinct at a point where the Old and New Towns meet.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 8, 1972
Mr Iain Macaulay, of Ardbharr Farm, near Drumbeg, in Assynt, is to get Highland Development Board backing for a two-acre market garden. Mr Macaulay's scheme was highlighted in a recent article in the Scottish Farmer where it was pointed out that at present fresh vegetables come from Dingwall, 80 miles away, or perhaps from Inverness, over 100 miles away.
A TEAM from Farr Secondary School, Bettyhill, travelled to London this week to be presented with the trophy they won in the annual Polyfilla schools sculpture competition. Entitled "The Supporters", their winning entry, which earned the Farr School's art department £250 and a silver trophy, is a caricature of five football supporters "up for the cup".
Mr J. B. Rodger, county clerk, told Sutherland Roads Committee recently that he was pushing as hard as he could their proposal that there should be a new road to Cape Wrath, cutting out the present necessary ferry crossing.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of December 7, 1922
Sutherland Education Authority has decided to build a central school to suit the convenience of pupils in the Ardmore, Portlovorchie, Skeircha, Rhivichie and Achlyness districts. The proposed site is Loch na Larr. The architect was instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the central school and submit same to the authority for approval.
Committee member Hugh Mackay, Trantlemore, asked if the authority were going to have a teacher living in the middle of a wilderness. Chairman Andrew Lindsay, Golspie, responded that day accommodation could be provided for the teacher at the central school but she could not live there – she would have to reside at one of the townships.
The case of the non-attendance at school of the children of Mr Robert Corbett, Portlovorchie, was again up for consideration. Officers stated that the teacher was at Ardmore side school, but was doing no teaching, as the pupils had not put in an appearance. After discussing the case carefully, the authority decided to prosecute.
